Past Due Book Review: From Paradise to the Promised Land

Imagine taking a journey through ancient biblical history in almost three dimensional virtual reality--a full immersion experience with all the nuances, textual references and detailed commentaries that you could hope to find in a book anywhere. T.D. Alexander's , From Paradise to the Promised Land: An Introduction to the Pentateuch, offers such an opportunity if you bypass Part 1 of the book, "Pentateuchal Criticism", which wastes space trying to justify the now almost totally debunked Documentary Hypothesis which dominated scriptural scholarly thinking between the latter part of the 19th century and early part of the 20th.
Needless apologetics aside, this book guides the reader from Genesis through Deuteronomy in a taxonomical format that encompasses nearly all aspects of revelatory purpose--historically, doctrinally and practically. Part 2, "The Main Themes of the Pentateuch", is where this work earns its merit and each chapter in this section is brilliantly divided into headings that even the most orthodox of Puritan scribes and theologians would be proud of. And after all is said and done whether Mr. Alexander would admit to it or not, his reverence and exegesis of this section of the Old Testament is orthodox to its core.
For example, consider a typical chapter division from the section entitled, "The Royal Lineage in Genesis":SummaryIntroductionThe Structure of GenesisThe Chosen 'Seed'The Lineage of AdamConclusionNew Testament ConnectionsAlexander maintains this finely structured approach all the way through, highlighting what he arbitrarily (but arguably on-target) designates as important thematic motifs for each section, ending with the chapter, "Why Israel?" which is refreshingly balanced in its conclusions and avoiding the pitfalls of controversy that surround political Zionism so prevalent today among unenlightened evangelicals. (For further discussions regarding geographical Israel and end times relevance, please see this and this and this).

Returning to "The Royal Lineage" section as a model, the author does an excellent job of starting a thread throughout the rest of the book based upon the genealogical structure of Genesis and the frequent use of the Hebrew word, zera, which is perhaps best translated as 'seed'. The thoroughly scholarly approach in dealing with this term is perhaps best exemplified in this excerpt from pages 103-4 of the paperback edition:
Several factors are worth noting briefly about the use of the term 'seed' in Genesis. (a) The Hebrew word zera, like the English word 'sheep', can be either singular or plural; it may denote a single seed or many seeds. An example of the former comes in 21:13 where Ishmael is described as Abraham's 'seed'. On the other hand, in 28:14 zera refers to the 'seed' (descendants) of Jacob 'who will be like the dust of the earth'. (b) 'Seed' normally denotes and individual's natural child or children. When Eve gives birth to Seth, she comments, 'God has granted me another child (seed) in place of Abel, since Cain killed him' (4:25). In 15:3 Abraham laments the fact that although his heir is Eliezer of Damascus, he is not of his own seed; this reflects the fact that as yet Abraham and Sarah have no child of their own. (c) The Hebrew word  zera conveys the idea that there is a close resemblance between the 'seed' and that which has produced it. We see this underlying the comment that plants and trees are to produce seeds 'according to their various kinds' (1:11-12).

All in all, along with the numerous charts, diagrams, external readings and references that the author provides, the reader will finish From Paradise to the Promised Land feeling that this experienced tour guide has carried him or her through a marvelous and awe inspiring journey through the most foundational section of the Bible with very little prejudice included.

But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them'--Luke 16:29
T.D. Alexander